ComancheExpert
Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2016
- Messages
- 21
- Reaction score
- 6
I have flown in the Canadian and Australian aviation environments and the only change has been greater bureaucracy and added cost.
Australia privatized, and created four bureaucracies CASA (like the FAA, is a regulator), air traffic control, airports (sold off, many closed and redeveloped, and fees introduced by remaining private operators), and fire/ground services. The prior government aviation minister in Australia made a glowing speech during his reign how wonderful and efficient that his government was in not building new infrastructure since demand had diminished. The truth was that demand was choked by fees and his governments bureaucracy and that is where this ATC privatization will take us. Previously the entire system was paid from fuel taxes did the privatization see the government eliminate the fuel taxes? NO! The taxes remained and the government double dipped.
Canada did a sleight of hand where it had a budget deficit and it formed a new air traffic corporation and sold the ATC to it for C$One Billion Dollars. The users of the new system have to pay for use and the fees cover actual cost plus the interest and repayment on the $One Billion Dollars. This trick appeared to reduce the government deficit by the $One Billion, but saddled aviation users by fees that had been paid by fuel taxes. Did the government reduce or eliminate the fuel taxes? NO!
Will Trumps privatization eliminate fuel taxes? No, of course not. The Transportation Secretary spent this week in Canada studying their system, so I expect that is what will be foisted onto us here.
My experience in Canadas airspace is that preference is still given to jet traffic (aka airlines) and that general aviation is provided with fewer services. Canada introduced fees at major airports in addition to all of the other fees so if you go to Vancouver, Calgary etc you have a landing fee.
I am confident that no benefit for General Aviation will be derived from this privatization. Airlines have promoted this for decades, apparently so they can offset much cost onto GA and reduce their costs. I was intrigued when Delta, United, American had a day of Trumps time about two weeks ago, and now we see the outcome privatization!
The present system isnt broken and works reasonably well the only predictable change is added cost which will lead to the (already pressured) GA portion of aviation being restricted and diminished.
Im an ATP and I fly a Twin Comanche and various business jets and I feel that I am qualified to express this position.
Australia privatized, and created four bureaucracies CASA (like the FAA, is a regulator), air traffic control, airports (sold off, many closed and redeveloped, and fees introduced by remaining private operators), and fire/ground services. The prior government aviation minister in Australia made a glowing speech during his reign how wonderful and efficient that his government was in not building new infrastructure since demand had diminished. The truth was that demand was choked by fees and his governments bureaucracy and that is where this ATC privatization will take us. Previously the entire system was paid from fuel taxes did the privatization see the government eliminate the fuel taxes? NO! The taxes remained and the government double dipped.
Canada did a sleight of hand where it had a budget deficit and it formed a new air traffic corporation and sold the ATC to it for C$One Billion Dollars. The users of the new system have to pay for use and the fees cover actual cost plus the interest and repayment on the $One Billion Dollars. This trick appeared to reduce the government deficit by the $One Billion, but saddled aviation users by fees that had been paid by fuel taxes. Did the government reduce or eliminate the fuel taxes? NO!
Will Trumps privatization eliminate fuel taxes? No, of course not. The Transportation Secretary spent this week in Canada studying their system, so I expect that is what will be foisted onto us here.
My experience in Canadas airspace is that preference is still given to jet traffic (aka airlines) and that general aviation is provided with fewer services. Canada introduced fees at major airports in addition to all of the other fees so if you go to Vancouver, Calgary etc you have a landing fee.
I am confident that no benefit for General Aviation will be derived from this privatization. Airlines have promoted this for decades, apparently so they can offset much cost onto GA and reduce their costs. I was intrigued when Delta, United, American had a day of Trumps time about two weeks ago, and now we see the outcome privatization!
The present system isnt broken and works reasonably well the only predictable change is added cost which will lead to the (already pressured) GA portion of aviation being restricted and diminished.
Im an ATP and I fly a Twin Comanche and various business jets and I feel that I am qualified to express this position.
